Sun, Surf, and Silver: The Kirra Beach Life of Jess Rutter and Her Botanical Jewellery
Jess Rutter is the CEO and Maker of Botanical Stone jewellery.
I met Jess years ago, when I first moved to the Gold Coast. I had made one whole friend; a girl named Asher who was into some seriously spiritual stuff, and was relieved to learn that she came with a group of incredible women — entrepreneurs who were also into the art of the unseen.
Jess was one of them. She wowed me with her effortlessly feminine, forest-fairy aesthetic, but her super laid-back beachbum lifestyle was a lot for my city-girl nervous system to take on. (I’ll save the story of her wild dogs pestering my handbag Pomeranian for another day).
We didn’t mesh instantly, but she was busy with kids and I was busy figuring out how to stay in Australia. Nonetheless, the intrigue was there, and once Jess moved down to Kirra, coffee dates became common.
Before long, I discovered that we shared a bond like no other. We quickly became besties, and I’ve watched Jess’s incredible story unfold — from botanical jewellery to baby bumps in Bali — since then.
I can attest to the magic that this woman weaves, both in her jewellery but also in her life as a friend, a mum and a business woman. She’s inspiring not only to me but to our close knit circle and those who are blessed to call her an acquaintance. Jess is the kind of salt-of-the-earth person who does well by all. She leads, albeit quietly, with a gentle heart, and brings those she loves with her every step of the way.
Living in beautiful Kirra Beach, the sun-kissed days and salty breezes make every moment feel like a little slice of paradise, but Jess’s life has a magic all of her own.
A natural in a wild garden, she loves the essence of plants. She cultivates herbs and flowers, and is always talking about the meanings of some leaf or another. She is a walking encyclopedia of ancient knowledge and plant essence, often chatting about the correct version of astrology (sidereal, never tropical!!), while sipping her dirty chai, (full cream milk, not almond, to my surprise).
She’s got 4 incredible kids who are the loves of her life. Lola, a 13-year-old surfing dynamo who has got the ocean in her veins; Kalani, the 15-year-old surf-addict who most likely inspired his sister; Koa her wild youngest, a 5-year-old little man with a big heart and a free spirit, (perhaps too free!), who has somehow snuck his cheeky little self into the centre of my heart too, and their oldest boy, Brandon, a busy teen-almost-twenties who has just moved out on his own. The kids, Jess and hubby Josh have made Kirra their home for 5 beautiful business-filled years, where Jess has grown her botanical biz from soldering silver on the floor in front of her vintage oak wardrobe, to trips to Indonesia where she lovingly directs artisans how to re-create her handmade designs with as much care as their creator, to a solid gold engagement line coveted by nature-loving girls world-wide.
Jess astounds me. When it comes passion, she keeps a slow pace, but she is all in. Her consistency never wavers. She has days where she does less than others, (in business perhaps, but never in life — she’s a mum of four, after all), yet Jess still manages to turn what could very well have been a hobby into a booming 6 figure business.
“I started casting because I wanted to bring the plant world’s wisdom back into the light. I wanted to be able to share the wonder and the magick that plants have to offer… to incorporate them into these beautiful, carefully made jewels.”
— Jess Rutter
Jess creates unique silver and solid gold jewellery infused with the beauty of nature. Her creations literally come to life using botanicals that she collects right here on our stunning coast. Each piece is like a tiny tribute to the flora that surrounds us — flowers and leaves turned into elegant keepsakes, wrapped around sacred healing crystals that carry botanical essences within them. Her latest line of bridal pieces have every nature-loving girl on the coast in a head-spin.
I’m constantly inspired by the new creations Jess comes up with. Every piece of jewellery she creates has her magic woven into it. To get an understanding of what I mean, check out her website, which is filled with the spiritual meanings of crystals as well as plants and their astrology. You won’t regret a visit, and if you do find something you like, use code KirraAbode for $10 off your order.
Jess Rutter is more than just a talented maker; she's a quiet force of nature, much like the botanicals she infuses into her jewellery. Her journey from a busy mum on the Coast to the founder of a thriving jewellery business is nothing short of inspiring. Each piece she creates is a reflection of her deep connection to nature, her unwavering passion, and the quiet, steady determination that defines her life. Jess’s story is one of the spirit of a woman who has truly mastered the art of blending life and work in the most beautiful way possible.